Clutch Ballers: Top Defensive Games from the Playoff’s 1st Round

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second-season is amongst us. With the non-public playoff having started last weekend, here are some of the top individual performances from our scholar athletes from across the great, Garden State during Round One.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Tackling Performances - Round One</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1550113' first='Terrence' last='Hanratty'], 2025 Bernards<br><br>20 tackles (3 solo), 1 tackle for loss; 1 rush, 1 yard, 1 TD in 35-33 victory vs. Rutherford</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1523190' first='Shaun' last='Watkins'], 2025, Middle Township<br><br>19 tackles (7 solo), 2 tackle for loss, 1 FF; 2 receptions, 14 yards; 3 carries, 3 yards in 13-46 defeat at Camden</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1087572' first='Lincoln' last='Youtz'], 2025, Mount Olive<br><br>19 tackles (4 solo), 3 tackles for loss in 40-6 victory vs. Newark Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1467565' first='Julien' last='Jones'], 2026, Colonia<br><br>16 tackles (8 solo); 7 receptions, 84 yards, 2 TD in 13-43 loss at Morris Knolls</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1002386' first='Andrew' last='Avent'], 2026, Rahway<br><br>15 tackles (7 solo), 1 tackle for loss; 28 carries, 239 yards, 1 TD in 14-22 loss at Ridge</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Pass Rushing Performances - Round One</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1228165' first='Joseph' last='Russo'], 2025, Hasbrouck Heights<br><br>7 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, 4 sacks in 41-7 victory vs. Wood-Ridge</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1550117' first='Donald' last='Weiss'], 2025, High Point<br><br>6 tackles (4 solo), 4 sacks, 1 FF in 46-6 victory vs. Becton</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='284064' first='Jerome' last='Foster'], 2026, Camden<br><br>3 tackles (3 solo), 3 sacks, 2 FR in 46-13 victory vs. Middle Township</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1546528' first='Jesse' last='Denobile'], 2025, Northern Highlands<br><br>6 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 FF in 21-0 victory vs. Westfield</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1543929' first='Matt' last='Howard'], 2026, Jackson Memorial<br><br>8 tackles (5 solo), 3 sacks, 1 FF in 46-13 victory at Central Regional</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Pass Defending Performances - Round One</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1550118' first='John' last='Gioia'], 2028, Rutherford<br><br>7 tackles (1 solo), 2 Int; 6 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD in 33-36 defeat at Bernards</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1476886' first='Alton' last='Howell'], 2027, Riverside<br><br>5 tackles, 2 Int; 10 carries, 41 yards, 1 TD in 40-20 victory at Haddon Township</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1031726' first='Dan' last='Russo'], 2025, Delsea<br><br>9 tackles (3 solo), 2 Int; 20 carries, 75 yards, 3 TD in 29-13 victory at Burlington Township</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1271284' first='Frenchmon' last='Bethea'], 2026, Cedar Creek<br><br>5 tackles (2 solo), 1 TFL, 2 Int; 2 carries, 17 yards; 1 reception, 33 yards, 1 TD in 39-14 victory vs. Triton</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='822784' first='Khaleeb' last='Foster'], 2025, Mainland<br><br>2 Int, 2 pick-six in 49-14 victory vs. Barnegat</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->